Many of you may have attended the May 2010 event for Karl Marlantes’ first book, Matterhorn. It was a memorable night but it seemed to me that we would never be so lucky to see Karl again. I had the pleasure and honor of taking him to the Eudora Welty house and about town. I also thought that Matterhorn would be Karl’s only book, but much to everyone’s delight he has given us this fall. I have found his new book profoundly moving, and I think this is a book we should all read.

I enjoyed reading Jerry Mitchell’s great write-up for Karl’s book and would like to share this quote with you:

Gunnery Sgt. Terence D’Alesandro, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, said publicly that Marlantes “is the absolute master of taking the psyche of the combat veteran and translating it into words that the civilian or non-veteran can understand. I have read many, many books on war, and this is the first time that I’ve ever read exactly what the combat veteran thinks and feels. Nothing I have ever read before has hit home in my heart like this book.”

Please read the full article in The Clarion Ledger.

Join us this evening for a signing at 5:00 and reading to follow at 5:30.

Click here for more information about What It Is Like to Go to War.

In getting ready for the long-awaited release of 1Q84 on October 25th, I was pleasantly surprised to find evidence of Lemuria-Staff-Past who have also been devoted fans. Walker (Lemuria Class of 2006) said he would be happy if we shared some of his thoughts on one his favorite Murakami books and a recommended first read. Here’s what he has to say:

Murakami’s Norwegian Wood was the novel that broke the author into mainstream success. Compared to Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World or Kafka on the Shore, the narrative is straightforward: a college boy’s coming-of-age story, told through his romantic involvement with two very different girls. But this book is the most affecting, personal, and character-driven Murakami I’ve read, and I loved it.

It’s a coming of age story with all of what I count as some of the author’s big draws: simple, elegant sentences, sexual frankness, and quiet thoughts on everyday scenes. When Murakami writes that his character just drank coffee, read a chapter in a book, then went to get beer, you don’t doubt it, and you feel for some reason that you would like coffee, a good book, and then some beer. It’s a weird and calm effect he has. Also, in this book, you get to read about what everybody eats and drinks. You will know what every character ate and drank every time they do it. It’s great. There’s a diligent and gentle attention to surface detail that’s almost strange.

This book would serve as a great introduction to Murakami, his writing and voice are wonderful here, the story is clear and intimate, and if you’re leery or not in the mood for fantastic elements, they’re none to be found.

-Walker (Lemuria 2006)

For an introduction to Murakami and preview of 1Q84, click here.

1Q84 is coming October 25th. Click here to reserve your copy.

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You might have heard us reference some of our publisher reps on our blog. Publisher reps can really make a difference in getting the best books, the best authors and service to an independent bookstore. No doubt we are working hard with Random House to throw a great party for Chuck Palahniuk and our 36-year anniversary. Liz Sullivan, one of our reps from Random House, joins our blogging efforts devoted to Chuck Palahniuk, acknowledging the “wee bit” of excitement that has spread through the store like a fever. -Lisa, Blog Editor

Chuck Palahniuk has a new novel coming in October, a delightful book called Damned. Better, Mr. Palahniuk is touring to one of my bookstores, Lemuria Books in Jackson, Mississippi. Lemuria has never hosted Chuck before and to say the least, they are a wee bit excited. The store has made t-shirts and posters promoting the event. They are planning a party with a band, and an art show, and they blog about Chuck every three days or so. Their enthusiasm is what makes my job fun. Nothing, seriously NOTHING, is better than an excited bookseller telling people about books they have to read (and buy). Okay, so maybe chocolate is as good….and I’m sure that Gianna can suggest a few things to do with inmates, but occupationally, book excitement is the best.

I’m still not going to date a convict. Moving on.

So Lisa, the terrific bookseller and editor for Lemuria’s blog, emailed me two days ago and asked if I’d write a Chuck-related blog piece for Lemuria since I’m such a big fan. While I want to support my stores in any way possible, I was confused. I actually had only ever read about a few samples of Chuck Palahniuk books (reps are supposed to read excerpts of books in order to obtain a taste of the writing and story). I’m a little crazy, though, and sometimes I suggest ideas without thinking them through completely. For example, let’s say that I suggest that I read all of Chuck Palahniuk’s books between now and the Lemuria event on October 20th and then I could write authoritatively about the man’s writing. Never mind that we’re talking about, like, a dozen books in 22 days and I have a full time job. (I don’t have a social life…but no, I’m still not going to date a convict.)

I am Liz’s Mental Illness and Blurry Eyes.

One book down, started this morning, finished tonight. I started with Fight Club because I saw the movie long, long ago…and I admit I didn’t really like the movie much. I’m not a Brad Pitt fan and the Marla character was one dimensional and the only sympathetic female character (Bob with the man boobs) is killed.

I appreciate that the book Fight Club is slightly different from the movie. Marla is significantly more compelling in the book, for one thing. The “twist” is more transparent and far more believable. And while the idea of Fight Club is about male bonding and the definition of masculinity, there’s enough satire to keep me from throwing the book across the room.

I am Liz’s outraged Intro to Women’s Studies curriculum.

Fight Club is juvenile. It glories in the vulgar practical jokes and tiny acts of anarchy that pervade the service industries. It shouldn’t be taken as a textbook. It’s one of those books where I think most of the readers take it too seriously and consider it The Catcher in the Rye of the 90s. The afterward is testament to the ridiculous responses this book has produced, and actually makes me think I might like this Chuck Palahniuk guy. We’ll see. I have quite a few books to go.

I am Liz’s inability to sleep.

I realize that I’m going to be reading a Chuck Palahniuk book about every day and a half for a couple of weeks, and that’s on top of the reading I need to do to prepare for my next sales conference. And that full time job. (Still no to the convicts, though.) I don’t sleep much. Filling my time and brain with the unladylike lit of Chuck Palahniuk could rot my brain, but I’ll try to chronicle my mental collapse properly.

-written by Liz Sullivan

See all of our Chuck Palahniuk blogs here.

Click here for Info about the Oct. 20 event.

“Mellas stood beneath the gray monsoon clouds on the narrow strip of cleared ground between the edge of the jungle and the relative safety of the perimeter wire.”

With these words Karl Marlantes began his amazingly powerful novel about the Vietnam War, Matterhorn. The first step to becoming, as Sebastian Junger says, “the preeminent literary voice on war of our generation“, and in no way were we left unsatisfied. Matterhorn quickly became a bestseller, hundreds – many of them vets themselves – commented on our blog about Matterhorn (here) and we had a wonderful evening with Karl at Lemuria books. Then, back in the winter, we discovered that there was more – Karl has written his non-fiction/extended essay – with the title that says it all – What Its Is Like to Got to War.

There have been many reviews of What It Is Like to Go to War, but none of them do the book any justice. LISTEN: this book is so good, so well balanced, so exactly what we need to understand about war. The reviews haven’t done justice because a review never could. This book is about what it was like for Karl – as an individual – to go to war and what it has been like for him to have been someone who went to war.

As Karl says, “All conscientious citizens and especially those with the power to make policy will be better prepared to make decisions about committing young people to combat if they know what they are about to ask them.”

Please don’t miss this chance to meet Karl Marlantes on Wednesday, October 5th for a signing and reading from What It Is Like to Got to War at 5:00 and 5:30.